Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In my memory, Cinderella was always mistreated and forced to work by her Stepmother. Whenever the housework became too overwhelming, she would start to sing, and then a multitude of small animals-pigeons, turtledoves, and the like-would emerge to help her.

This is a signature Disney Princess skill. Now that I’ve become Cinderella, I should have this ability too, right?

I cleared my throat.

“Ooooh-ooooh-ooooh~ Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh~”

No reaction. Maybe I was doing it wrong? I kept singing.

“Eeee-eeee-eeee~ Woooo-woooo-woooo~”

I sang repeatedly for half an hour until my throat was parched. I didn’t give up, and finally, that mouse crawled out from the corner again.

I was delighted and crouched down to stare at it.

“Are you here to help me?”

The mouse let out a series of squeaks, its limbs convulsed, and it collapsed onto the floor.

Me: “…”

I sat on the ground with my arms wrapped around my knees, at a complete loss. Just then, a chaotic thumping of footsteps echoed from above, followed by the Stepmother’s shrill, loud voice.

“Oh my goodness, Your Highness! You’ve come in person! Oh my!”

I peered upward through the cracks in the wooden floorboards. The Prince was still carrying the same longsword from last night. With a smile on his face, he gestured for his attendants to force my eldest sister down into a chair.

“Beautiful Lady Anna, is this Crystal Slipper yours?”

Anna’s face flushed red as she nodded shyly.

An attendant tried to fit the shoe onto her foot, but her foot was far too wide. No matter how they tried, it wouldn’t go in.

Anna grew frantic.

“I… I have a bit of edema today.”

“Is that so? But you can only be my Princess Consort if you can wear the shoe.”

The Prince’s expression was cold. Hearing this, Anna desperately tried to cram her foot into the shoe, her instep turning a bruised red from the pressure.

The Prince let out a cold sneer and raised the sword in his hand.

“Let me help you-”

The Prince’s hand rose and the blade fell, slicing off half of her foot. Anna let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching her leg as she rolled onto the floor in agony.